“If the world is ending, should I just go ahead and change my life and do everything that my heart desires to do right now?” The female caller on my hayhouseradio.com show was sincere as she asked me whether she should focus upon her dreams, if the world was about to end.

With the Japanese earthquake, the Mayan calendar ending next year, and earth changes in the news, it’s normal to think about our mortality – individually and collectively. In fact, to do so is VERY healthy!

When I was an undergraduate, I took a college psychology course called “On Death and Dying,” which was the study of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s stages of grief. We learned how to help ourselves and others cope with loss. And as field trips, our class visited funeral parlors, crematoriums, and cemeteries.

This pushed me to examine my own fears and anxieties about death. These fears, called “existential anxiety,” are based upon worries whether life holds meaning and purpose, and whether there is an afterlife, reincarnation, or just “nothing” afer death.

I realized that I was procrastinating pursuing my dreams, such as writing a book, because I believed it would passively happen some day in the future when I had more time. Upon closer examination, I realized that I believed I would write my book when I retired from working as a senior citizen. I also intuited that I was both afraid of success and of failure. To avoid all of these feelings, I’d avoided working on my book and other dreams.

Once I made these ah-hah! realizations, my fears lessened. Fears always lessen when you confront them. That’s why the ego compels us to keep stuffing fears down with addictive behaviors.

Within two years, I’d written my first book and was published. After graduation, when I began working as an eating disorder therapist, I focused upon helping my clients to confront their hidden fears, too. The question I’d often ask my clients is one that I’d like to ask you, too:

“If you knew that you only had a short amount of time to live, what changes would you make in your life?”

My clients would answer with wonderful goals and desires, such as learning how to fly an airplane; traveling more; doing volunteer charitable work; playing a musical instrument; starting their own business; and having more fun and leisure.

We would then examine their answers and ask another question: “What are you waiting for?” Once they began working on their dreams, their anxieties and depression symptoms lessened or disappeared.

Yes, the Mayan calendar ended in 2012. Yes, the tragedies in Japan and other places experiencing changes are intense right now. But this doesn’t mean the world is going to end. The angels have been showing me visions of the earth’s future since I was a little girl. . . and the future is beautiful. They show me an Eden-like world with peaceful people cooperating with one another.

We are going through major changes in the world, which will culminate in blessings for us all collectively. And even if the world were going to end, how would you want to spend your last days? In worry, anxiety, and fear? Or in great joy and bliss?

You were created by God, and everything that God creates is immortal and eternal. Your soul is ancient and has had many experiences . . .and will continue to do so. Even if the physical world ended, YOU would continue to live on and on . . .as would your loved ones.

So, let’s use any anxieties about the world in beneficial ways:

DO put your priorities front-and-center on your daily schedule

DO give yourself permission to pursue your goals and live your dreams now!

DO talk with God a lot, and give God your worries for healing and uplifting

DO focus upon taking excellent care of the environment

DO use positive and loving words

DO surround yourself with gentle, positive people

DO open your heart to as much love as possible. At the end of your life, what will matter most is your answer to this question: “How much did I love?”

DON’T procrastinate living your dreams

DON’T wait until you have more money, time, or ideas to begin working on your priorities
DON’T listen to negativity from yourself or others

Here’s a prayer to support you:

“Dear God, Thank you for holding me strongly in your loving arms, giving me the strength and the courage to change my life in healthy ways. Please clearly guide me and show me signs to help me know my next best step to take. Thank you for sending your angels to my side to protect and guide me and my family.”